Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, launched a new incentive program on Oct. 1 for travel agencies and agents that secure business to the destination. In partnership with Travelport, a global distribution system (GDS) travel technology company, the initiative targets agents based in Florida and the neighboring states of Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Agencies and agents who utilize Travelport reservation systems will automatically be eligible to receive an additional 3 percent commission when booking business to Palm Beach County hotels.
The booking window through Travelport’s GDS is now through Nov. 30, 2020, for travel redemption through April 15, 2021. According to Travelport, DTPB is the first partner destination marketing organization (DMO) to provide such a substantial commission-based incentive in the U.S.
“We are thrilled to have launched this commission-based incentive program with The Palm Beaches,” said Travelport’s Anna Au-Yeung, global head of destination marketing. “Our long-standing partnership with the largest county southeast of the Mississippi River makes the destination an ideal target for us to help drive tourism. We expect this unique offering will have a positive impact on hotels located within Palm Beach County and aid the many agents using Travelport to service their travelers.”
The purpose of the program is three-fold:
Increase exposure of The Palm Beaches with those actively seeking to travel to or within The Sunshine State
Further generate short-term and long-term bookings to The Palm Beaches
Thank the travel agent community for their continued support
Added Erick Garnica, DTPB’s senior director of leisure travel industry sales: “This exciting GDS partnership will elevate the destination’s visibility more than in years past. It will drive continued business to area hotels, boost the local economy and serve as a way to show appreciation to our valued travel consultants working especially hard during these challenging times.”
According to MMGY Global’s 2019 Portrait of the American Traveler, 24 percent of travelers interested in The Palm Beaches used a travel agent for their bookings. With an inventory of more than 17,000 hotel rooms and an increase in consumer confidence, this partnership poses an advantageous opportunity for local hoteliers in Palm Beach County.
DTPB serves as the tourism arm for all 39 cities and towns that collectively make up Palm Beach County. Key cities and towns include Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Singer Island and Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.